Preparing our Bloodhounds for success in college, career, and citizenship!

Keys to Success

1. On time

• Get to class on time
• Reduce absences

2. Dressed for success

• Reasonable and appropriate

3. Focused on learning

•  Always prepared to learn
• Engaged in the learning
• No Classroom disruptions

AHS Tardy Policy

Attendance PPT for 2022

Attendance and promptness are extremely important factors in the success, or lack of success, for students at Auburndale High School. According to the Polk County School Board, truancy is defined as any student that is subject to compulsory school attendance who has an excessive amount of unexcused absences within a certain amount of time (10 to 90 calendar days) OR has an accumulative record of tardiness.

Students who arrive at school after 7:00 am without an excuse are considered tardy. Late students will be instructed to report to the Choice Room for one class period. Students that provide an excuse for their tardiness will be instructed to report directly to class. All students arriving late MUST check in through the main office.

 Excused tardies include:

• Personal Illness: if a note (signed by the parent) is submitted to the school upon checking in and it does NOT exceed 10 notes per school year.
• Illness or Death in the Immediate Family: if a note signed by the parent is submitted upon checking in to school.
• Religious Holidays: If the parent gives written notice at least 5 days prior to the tardy.
• Educational Trips: if prearranged with the teacher and approved by the principal.
• Trips with Parents: if prearranged and approved by the school administration.
• School Sponsored Activities: if the activities were prearranged with the school administration.
• Judicial Actions: if a copy of the subpoena or court summons is provided upon check in at school.
• Other emergencies: may be accepted at the discretion of the Principal or Principal Designee. May require documentation and may be subject to a 10 note maximum per school year.

Executive Intern Criteria

Only students who satisfy the following criteria will be considered to be Executive Intern:
• Seniors
• On track to graduate
• Earned an acceleration point by passing an AP Exam, passing a dual enrollment course with a C or better, or passing an industry certification

On-the-Job Training (OJT) Criteria

Only students who satisfy the following criteria will be considered for OJT:
• Seniors
• On track to graduate
• Earned an acceleration point by passing an AP Exam, passing a dual enrollment course with a C or better, or passing an industry certification
• Have a job

Food & Drink Policy

The Polk County School Nutrition program has a heartfelt concern for the well-being and health of our students and our community. We believe that good nutrition is critical for maximum student achievement and meeting our district’s educational goals. Auburndale High School’s nutrition program is an extension of the district’s program and it shares the same focus and commitment to serving the most nutritious meals to our students and providing nutrition education that will prepare students to choose a healthy lifestyle now and into the future.

In an effort to create an extraordinary environment that inspires greatness, in order to support the School District’s nutrition program and in an effort to comply with USDA school dietary guidelines, AHS has set forth the following basic food and drink guidelines:

• Students are not allowed to bring outside (commercially prepared) food to be consumed in the cafeteria, cafeteria patio or any other area where students eat their school-prepared food.
• If a student arrives at school with (commercially prepared) food or if a parent brings outside food for a student, they will be allowed to eat their food in the office or any other area designated by office or administrative staff.
• Other than for medical/emergency reasons, office and/or administrative staff will not handle or process the delivery of food to students and they will not call students to come to the office to pick up outside (commercially prepared food). Parents must notify the office staff about the medical/emergency situation prior to the food being delivered. Students with medical conditions will always have immediate access to healthy and nutritious school-prepared food.
• Other than for medical/emergency reasons, food deliveries by restaurant delivery services (such as pizza deliveries) will not be processed or distributed to students by office/administrative staff. Parents must notify the office staff about the medical/emergency situation prior to the food being delivered. Students with medical conditions will always have immediate access to healthy and nutritious school-prepared food.
• Parents who wish to share a meal with their children at school, may bring outside (commercially prepared) food to share with their children; however, this food cannot be brought in the cafeteria, cafeteria patio or any other area where students eat their school-prepared food. Office or administrative staff will direct parents to an area designated for these visits where the outside food can be enjoyed by parents and students.
• Parents cannot bring outside (commercially prepared) food for any other student other than their child(ren).

Student Attendance Policies & Procedures

Attendance is an extremely important factor in the success, or lack of success, for students at Auburndale High School. With a seven period schedule, students will attend seven 47-minute classes each day for an 18-week semester.  They will continue in the same classes for the second semester unless they have enrolled in a ½ credit course (i.e., Physical Education, Government, Economics, or various other electives).  Credit is earned on a semester basis at ½ credit per semester per class. To comply with the attendance requirements established by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS), the State of Florida and Polk County Schools, students must attend class a minimum of 67.5 hours per semester. All courses allow for 75 hours of instruction per semester. A student who misses 10 days or more of class is in jeopardy of losing credit.  If the student does not complete make up work to the teacher’s satisfaction he/she will be required to pass the final exam to show mastery and to receive credit for that class.

Parental Notification of Absences

Parents will be contacted via by the school computer and telephone system every time the student misses a class.  Thus it is very important to keep the school informed of any changes in contact information.  Parents will be asked to update this information by contacting the Attendance Secretary at 965-6200.

Excused/Unexcused Absences

Excused absences, as described by the Polk County Code of Student Conduct Section 2.01 include:

• Personal Illness: if a note signed by the parent is submitted within three student attendance days upon return to school and it does not occur more than 10 attendance days in a 90 calendar day period
• Illness or Death in the Immediate Family: if a note signed by the parent is submitted upon return to school
• Religious Holidays: If the parent gives written notice at least 5 days prior to the absence
• Educational Trips: if prearranged with the teacher and approved by the principal.  The student must submit a written report of the trip to the teacher.
• Trips with Parents: if prearranged and approved by the school administration.  Emergencies will not be excused unless determined by the principal.
• School Sponsored Activities: if the activities were prearranged with the school administration.
• Judicial Actions: if a copy of the subpoena or court summons is provided upon return to school.  Placement in a Juvenile Detention Center shall be an excused absence.

Unexcused absences, as described by the Polk County Code of Student Conduct Section 2.01 include:

• Any absence that does not meet the criterion of an excused absence listed above.
• For the purposes of truancy, the student must be present more than 50% of the day to be counted present.

Students enrolled at Auburndale High School are expected to make up missed work for excused absences. A student is expected to request make-up work immediately upon returning to school. Make-up work should be an appropriate assignment that can be, but does not have to be, equivalent to the hours of school missed.  According to the Polk County Code of Student Conduct, Section 2.20: “Work missed during the student’s first three (3) days of unexcused absences during a semester is expected to be made up.  This includes absences caused by an out-of-school suspension.  The right of students to make up work on the fourth unexcused absence and all other days of unexcused absences per semester may be denied.” The time allotted for a student to complete missed assignments should be a minimum of two school days per each day of absence.

Documentation of Excused Absences

The following documentation should be turned in to Mrs. Manuel in the Attendance Office within three (3) days of the student’s return to school. These are:

• medical appointments/hospitalization report
• court-ordered appearances
• traffic accidents directly involving the student
• funeral (In Memoriam) document
• note concerning illness signed by parent
• Prearrangement documentation for trips

It is highly recommended that parent(s)/guardian(s) keep copies of the documents relating to student absences. Students are expected to request make-up work immediately upon returning to school from all absences.

Extended Make-up Time

Based on lengthy absences due to unusual circumstances, the teacher may use discretion to grant an extended time period for the return of completed make-up work. However, this extended make-up time frame can not be extended beyond two weeks after the course has concluded.

Credit Denial due to Failure to Pass Final Exam

Based on SACS guidelines, all students who do not meet the minimum 135 hours of instruction for each unit of credit (67.5 hours per semester) must show mastery of performance standards. Upon absence #10 per course in a semester with no evidence of teacher-based acceptable make-up work, the student may be required to show mastery of performance standards by passing the course and the teacher’s final exam. If mastery of the performance standards is not met by the student, he/she will be denied credit.

Denial of Credit due to Excessive Absences

A student with excessive absences in a semester, as determined by the Attendance Committee, with no evidence of teacher-based acceptable make-up work can be denied credit in that course. If the student is age 16 or over, he/she is subject to withdrawal from school with parent approval. Absences due to suspension count toward the above mentioned absences.

Attendance Committee

The Attendance Committee is made up of teachers and administrators. The committee may recommend to the Principal the denial or reinstatement of credit. The denial of credit will be at the end of the course. The decision of the Principal is final. Attendance will be taken electronically using Pinnacle (Gradebook) by all teachers period by period. Attendance will be entered the first ten minutes of each period, unless there are special mitigating circumstances. Teachers will code absences AU (unexcused) for all classes.  If a student turns in an allowable excuse, the absence code will be changed to A by the attendance secretary. Absences for ISS or OSS will be recoded by the attendance secretary. Students skipping class will be written up on a discipline referral. In classes where course syllabi are available, and tests are planned and announced in advance, students are expected to take the test upon returning to school after an absence should the absence occur on test day.  When special class reports and projects are announced in advance, they are also due upon the student’s return to school should the absence occur on the due date. An attempt at Parent contact will be made by the deans once a student has missed 3 days.  Once the student misses 5 days, they will be placed on an attendance contract. If there are extenuating circumstances regarding a student’s absence from school please notify the attendance or guidance offices.  Communication is the key ingredient in achieving our goal of reducing student absenteeism. Questions about student attendance should be directed to the attendance secretary, Lois Manuel.  Questions about enrollment status should be directed to the terminal operator, Mrs. Tabatha Price.

Leaving School Grounds

The only way students are permitted to leave campus during the school day is by checking-out through the attendance office. This includes 18-year old students who live at home.

Parking Policy

• Students are to park in the area designated for student parking. Parking permits will be sold by Mrs. Mulford or Ms. Boatner. The cost of the parking permit is $20.00 and there are no refunds. Students must provide a copy of their drivers license and insurance card. Students will read and sign a form acknowledging that they have read and understand the parking procedures.
• Permits must be displayed at all times in the front windshield or your vehicle may be towed. Students can begin buying passes the week prior to the first day of school. Incoming Seniors will have the opportunity to purchase parking permits the last week of school. You must show proof of successfully passing the 11th grade (current grade report).
• Co-op Students will also provide the above documentation along with a copy of a current class schedule. Schedules will be verified through the school year to ensure the student is still enrolled in Co-op. If there is a schedule change, the student needs to see Mrs. Mulford and exchange the co-op pass for a regular parking pass at no charge.
• At no time will the regular student body parking area gates be unlocked in order for Co-op students to leave campus. They must at all times park in the co-op designated parking area.
• If at any time a student arrives on campus and his/her parking spot has another vehicle in it, they are to come to the main office and report it immediately.
• If you are checking out during the school hours, you must have a pass from the main office allowing you to depart campus. This includes students involved with Yearbook and SGA.
• Students who did not purchase a parking permit the week before school starts will have the first week of school to do so. At the beginning of the second week of school, students will get a warning for not having a permit. The second warning could result in your vehicle being towed at owners expense. Students will also be cited for the following.
  • Parked in wrong space.
  • Parked in a no parking zone.
  • Parked in teacher parking.
• If students have been cited three or more times, their parking privilege will be reviewed which could result in the parking pass being revoked. Students will have to find other means of transportation to school. A bus schedule is available in the office.
• If you have questions or concerns, please see Mrs. Mulford or Ms. Boatner in the front office.

Volunteers

Volunteers are an important part of our school family. To maintain security on our campus, new volunteers must undergo a Florida Department of Law Enforcement background check at a cost of $24. This is a one time tax-deductible fee for prospective volunteers Return your completed application to Anita Boatner in the AHS main office. Volunteer Applications

• 2018-2019 Volunteer Application
• 2018-2019 Solicitud de Voluntarios (2014-2015 Spanish Volunteer Application)
• 2018-2019 Voluntè Application (2014-2015 Haitian Creole Volunteer Application)

All volunteers must check in through the main office when coming in campus.